Project Areas

"If we value the pursuit of knowledge, we must be free to follow wherever that search may lead us."
—Adlai Stevenson

Useful Website & Resource Links

American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD). The oldest professional association devoted to working with and for individuals with an intellectual disability or developmental disabilities. http://www.aaidd.org/

Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD). The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) is a membership organization that supports and promotes a national network of university-based interdisciplinary programs. Network members consist of: 67 University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD), funded by the Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD); 35 Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) Programs funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB); and 19 Developmental Disability Research Centers (DDRC), most of which are funded by the National Institute for Child Health and Development (NICHD). http://www.aucd.org/template/index.cfm

Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD): The APD works in partnership with local communities and private providers to assist people who have developmental disabilities and their families. APD also provides assistance in identifying the needs of people with developmental disabilities for supports and services. http://apd.myflorida.com

Center for Early Education & Development (CEED). CEED's mission is to improve developmental outcomes for children through Applied Research, Training, and Outreach. Funded projects address; Social & Emotional Development and Mental Health, Early Literacy, Child Development, Policy, and Program Evaluation. http://education.umn.edu/ceed/default.htm

Center for Self-Determination. The center is a highly interactive collaboration of individuals and organizations committed to the principals of self-determination. http://www.self-determination.com

Circle of Inclusion. The Circle of Inclusion Web Site is for early childhood service providers and families of young children. This web site offers demonstrations of and information about the effective practices of inclusive educational programs for children from birth through age eight. Information is available in Spanish, Korean, Japanese, and Chinese. http://www.circleofinclusion.org

Disability Info.gov. This is a comprehensive federal website on disability-related government resources for people with disabilities, their families, employers, vocational rehabilitation, human resource professionals, and many others. http://www.disabilityinfo.gov

Disability Nation. DisabilityNation is an audio magazine by and for people with disabilities. DisabilityNation brings you the latest from the disability community and features news and interviews covering important issues. This is coverage of disability issues you won't get anywhere else. http://www.disabilitynation.net

First Words Project. This is a model early identification and intervention program based in the Department of Communication Disorders at Florida State University. Staffed by speech-language pathologists and interdisciplinary consultants, First Words Project is funded to evaluate the communication development of children from 6 to 24 months of age in Leon County. http://firstwords.fsu.edu/mission.html

Florida Office on Disability and Health.Florida was recently awarded a disability and health grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This grant allowed for the creation of the, housed within the College of Public Health and Health Professions at the University of Florida The establishment of the Florida Office on Disability and Health (FODH) in Florida will facilitate the movement toward continuity in care for people with disabilities and their families, serving as a centralized location for designing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating programs and services. A major aim of the FODH will be to generate epidemiologically sound and consistent data on disability and health, using both new and existing sources of data, so that disability and health-related public health policies and programs within the state are data-driven, evidence-based best practices. Florida Office on Disability and Health.

FYI Transition. A new resource from the Florida DD Council, FYI Transition is a new website designed principally for families - parents and students - to teach them about transition and employment. While it is still a “work-in-progress,” there are links to stories about students and their jobs and information on transition planning. It also has a discussion board and the availability of on-line courses. http://www.fyitransition.com

IDEA 2004 Parent Guide is a user-friendly guide created by the National Center on Learning Disabilities (NCLD). It can be found online at http://www.ncld.org/content/view/900/456084/

Health and Human Services Office on Disability. The Health and Human Services Office on Disability was created in October 2002 in response to the New Freedom Initiative. The office oversees the implementation and coordination of disability programs, policies and special initiatives pertaining to the over 54 million persons with disabilities in the United States. The New Freedom Initiative established seven distinct domains in the area of disability: community integration, education, employment, health, housing, technology, and transportation.

IDEA Partnership. The IDEA Partnership is a national organization dedicated to improving outcomes for students and youth with disabilities by joining state agencies and stakeholders through shared work and learning. The IDEA Partnership is devoted to stimulating new ways for stakeholders, administrators, service providers, family members, policymakers, and other interested individuals – to work together on issues related to IDEA 2004 that are shared across states and districts; across roles and relationships. To accomplish this goal, the IDEA Partnership provides opportunities for stakeholders to move beyond information and build shared meaning; to go beyond dissemination to joint understanding and action. http://www.ideapartnership.org

In My Language. This is a wonderful video by Amanda, a young woman with autism who is considered “low-functioning.” She wrote, produced, and posted her own video called “In My Language” on You-Tube. The first half of the video is in “her language,” and the second half is translated by the laptop she uses to communicate in “our language.” This video is beautiful and profound in any language. English Version and Español Verson

Inclusion Daily Express. International Disability Rights News Service. Their mission is to provide disability advocates with the most up-to-date news, information, and commentary about community inclusion, self-determination and social justice, in a way that saves time and is easy to use. http://www.inclusiondaily.com

Inclusion Resources. Inclusion.com offers person-centered resource materials for training events, public schools, high schools, community colleges, universities, human service agencies, health organizations, government agencies, families, First Nations organizations - nationally and internationally. http://www.inclusion.com

National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Founded in 1926, NAEYC is the world's largest organization working on behalf of young children with nearly 100,000 members, a national network of over 300 local, state, and regional Affiliates, and a growing global alliance of like-minded organizations. NAEYC is dedicated to improving the well-being of all young children, with particular focus on the quality of educational and developmental services for all children from birth through age 8. http://www.naeyc.org

National Center for Culturally Responsive Educational Systems (NCCRES). A project funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs, provides technical assistance and professional development to close the achievement gap between students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and their peers, and reduce inappropriate referrals to special education. The project targets improvements in culturally responsive practices, early intervention, literacy, and positive behavioral supports. http://www.nccrest.org

National Council on Disability (NCD). NCD's overall purpose is to promote policies, programs, practices, and procedures that guarantee equal opportunity for all individuals with disabilities, regardless of the nature or severity of the disability; and to empower individuals with disabilities to achieve economic self-sufficiency, independent living, and inclusion and integration into all aspects of society. NCD has a free ListServ to receive news and bulletins. http://www.ncd.gov

National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (NECTAC). The National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center supports the implementation of the early childhood provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). NECTAC’s mission is to strengthen service systems to ensure that children with disabilities (birth through 5) and their families receive and benefit from high quality, culturally appropriate, and family-centered supports and services. http://www.nectac.org/default.asp

Partners in Policymaking Making Your Case, a self-study course designed to help people with developmental disabilities and their families create positive change through advocacy. http://www.partnersinpolicymaking.com/makingyourcase

Planning Ahead. This is a handbook for parents, family members, and guardians of adults with developmental disabilities. It provides information that will help identify and plan the direction and future regarding the quality of life family members' desire. Personal information summary is included to ensure the safety and happiness of a surviving family member with a disability. http://fddc.org/LINKS/pdf/Planning%20Ahead%20Final.pdf

Ragged Edge Online. Online magazine with a focus on disability rights. Ragged Edge Online includes loads of articles and recommended blogs. http://www.raggededgemagazine.com